Electric light fixture



Dec. 7, 1937. A JOHNSQN 2,101,580

ELECTRI C LIGHT FIXTURE Filed March 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 7, 1937. G JOHNSON 2,101,680

ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE Filed March 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v M y I Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITE orri 8 Claims.

' which the usual fastening means in the switch operating structure are eliminated and the parts are held in operative relation by fastening the socket within the wall bracket thereby simplifying and increasing the speed of the assembling oper- 2171011. 7 Q I Yet another object is the provision of a rotatable member for operating the switch which may be made of the same material as the body of the wall bracket to harmonize therewith.

A further object is the provision of a wall bracket adapted to serve as a receptacle for receiving a plug attachment in addition to the function of serving as a lamp holder.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter. In its preferred form, my invention contemplates a fixture having a cup portion for receiving and housing an electric lamp socket provided with a switch and means for operating said switch, comprising a turn knob mounted in the base of the cup and projecting outwardly through anopening therein. The turn knob is retained in operative position within the base of the cup portion by an annular flange formed on its inner end whichlrides upon the inner margin of the opening. The switch includes a rotatable memher for opening and closing it, which member is anchored in the turn knob in order to turn with it. The rotatable switch member and the turn knob are both looselymounted, the said member being supported in operative position by the turn knob, and the turn knob is held against vertical movement between the bottom of the cup and the base of the socket, which is fastened by any suitable means within the cup to hold said parts in operative positions. The fastening of the lamp socket within the cup eliminates the necessity for providing other fastening means for the rotatable switch member and the turn knob, and produces a construction of extreme simplicity capable of rapid assembling. g

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a side elevation of a Wall bracket constr'ucted in accordance with my invention and shown as carrying an electric lamp; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3,is a rear elevation; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same without the lamp socket; Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 5-5 in Fig. 2 omitting the lamp; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lamp socket including the switch mechanism turned at an angle of degrees from the position shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the socket; d Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on a larger scale on line 88 in Fig. 6 looking upwardly; Fig.

9 is a bottom plan view of the upper insulating member in the lamp socket showing the fixed contacts; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the movable contact; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same; 15 v Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view showing the interlocking means for preventing rotary movement of thelamp socket in the bracket and Fig.

13 is a cross sectional View Online l3--l|3 in Fig. 2'showing the contacts for the plug attach- 2 ment.

The invention contemplates the provision of a fixture or wall'bracket molded of suitable insulating material such as porcelain, bakelite. or similar materials. Preferably, porcelain is used "2 because it is easily molded and its smooth surface permits it to be easily cleaned and adapts the bracket for use in bathrooms, kitchens and other places Where there is considerable moisture.

Furthermore, porcelain is susceptible of being 0 colored to harmonize with the surroundings.

Referring to the drawings showing one form of the invention, i5 designates a hollow base plate of insulating material adapted to be secured to and cover an outlet box or similar device in the 5 wall, which base may be of any suitable form but is shown as elliptical. Mounted within the base is a bridge member it having a central aperture ii for fastening it to the outlet box and the base is secured to the bridge by screws i8.. Projecting from the base is a bracket 2!! having its end in the form of a cup 2! adapted to receive and support a lamp socket of any suitable construction. Preferably, however, a socket of the form shown is employed because of its simplicity of '4 construction and operation.

The lamp socket, which is adapted to fit snugly within the cup to avoid movement of the lamp in case of vibration, comprises a pair of buttons 24 and 25' of insulating material spaced apart and 50 fastened together by a pair of side straps: 26 and 27, a lamp receiving screw shell 28 carried by the upper button 24 and a switch mechanism interposed between. the buttons. The buttons and the screw shell are all of a diameter which will insure 5 a close fit between the socket and the supporting I o fasten the screw shell to the top face of the upper button 24, the former is cut out centrally across its base and up each side to leave two base segments 29 and to form side openings 3!] (Fig. 6) and the latter is provided with shallow recesses within which fit the base segments (Fig. 5) secured in position by a screw 3! on one side and a screw 32 and washer 33 on the other side. The shell is thereby locked against rotary movement on the button. A central spring lamp contact 34 is riveted at its outer end in a marginal recess 35 in the top face of the upper button by a rivet 35 (Fig. 8).

On its lower face the upper button has formed a central projecting annular flange 3'! surrounded by an annular series of four ratchet teeth 38, each tooth being a quadrant in length. Upon alternate teeth are mounted a pair of fixed contacts and 4|, the former having a radial extension or ear 42 fastened in a marginal recess by the rivet 36 and thereby connected to the central lamp contact 34 and the latter being provided with a similar extension or ear 43 fastened in a marginal recess by a screw 44. This latter contact is also electrically connected to the strap 21 through a tongue 45 on said strap whereby the strap is fastened to the upper button by the screw 44. The other strap 25 is provided with a similar tongue 41 whereby it is fastened to the upper button and at the'same time electrically connected to the shell 28 by the screw 32. Since both of the straps 26 and 21 are. intended to be used as current carrying members, conductor wires 48 and 49 may be connected to them respectively in any suitable manner as by soldering. The lower ends of the straps are turned inwardly and fastened in marginal recesses 5| in the upper face of the lower button 25 by suitable screws 52 inserted from the lower face (Fig. 6).

The lamp socket is fastened within the cup 2| by means of two screws 54 inserted in countersunk bores 55 in the bottom of the cup which extend upwardly through bores in the lower button 24 and have their ends threaded through washers 56 locked in marginal recesses 5'! in the button. The bottom of the cup may be provided with an oblique shoulder portion 58 adapted to project into a recess 59 in the lower button 25; The bottom of the cup is provided with a central aperture 60 in which is mounted loosely a fluted turnknob 6| of porcelain or other insulating material which knob has an inner circumferential flange S2 riding on an annular shoulder formed in the base of the cup so that the knob cannot be withdrawn through the bottom of the cup. A washer 63 may be interposed between the flange and the shoulder in order to prevent friction of the parts when turning the knob. The bottom face of the lower button 25 is provided with a central recess 64 to receive the upper flanged end of the turn knob (Fig. 12).

Mounted in a square bore in the inner face of the turn knob is a spindle 65 square in cross section, the upper end of which fits within the annular flange 31 on the lower face of the upper button 24. Loosely mounted on the spindle is a movable contact 66 (Fig. 10) having a central square aperture 67 fitting the spindle, said contact having a pair of oppositely arranged wing portions 68 adapted to engage the fixed con tacts on the bottom face of the upper button. The central portion of the movable contact is circular in plan and is adapted to ride on the annular flange 31, the wing portions being turned upwardly to engage the ratchet teeth and fixed contacts on the bottom face of the upper button. A helical spring 10 encircles the spindle 64 and being under compression at all times forces the movable contact upwardly on the spindle with its wings in contact with the ratchet teeth, yet permitting the movable contact to have a limited movement vertically as the wings ride up on the inclined surfaces of the ratchet teeth when the contact is rotated. At its lower end the spring abuts the end of a central recess H in the top surface of the lower button and at its upper end the central portion of. the movable contact, which central portion may be provided with a plurality of outwardly extending fingers l2 to take care of any slight lateral movement of the spring. For operating the switch to close and open the circuit, the turn knob is rotated preferably in a clockwise direction and the movable contact is, through the instrumentality of the square spindle, turned in the same direction. As the movable contact turns, the wings ride up on the ratchet teeth or the fixed contacts as the case may be which, causes the movable contacts to be moved downwardly slightly against the pressure of the spring until the wings disengage the ratchet teeth or contacts when they drop into the succeeding ratchet teeth or movable contact as the case may be. the wings may make a flat contact with the fixed contacts when in proper position, they are given a slight inclination corresponding with the inclination of the ratchet teeth. The turn knob can be rotated in only one direction since the rear ends of the wings of the movable contact engage the vertical shoulders of the ratchet teeth to prevent movement in that direction.

When the lamp socket is inserted in the cup,

it is provided with extended lead wires and in order to prevent these lead wires from interfering with the operation of inserting the socket, the lower button is provided with marginal recesses 14 in which the lead wires are laid and their ends are then inserted in the cup and rear- Z wardly through the hollow bracket to be followed up by the insertion of the lamp socket in the cup.

In order that the wall bracket may also serve as an attachment plug receptacle, the inner face In order that of the base at some convenient location, such as near its bottom,, may be provided with contact chambers 15 in which are mounted loosely contacts i5 fixed to small plates l1 carrying a pair of binding screws 18. Each contact comprises a bored plate portion having its end turned at right angles and then reversely, the plate'por tion in each case being secured to the plate 11 by a binding screw 18 threaded through the latter. Each of the contact chambers is provided with an-interior oblique shoulder adapted to be engaged by the end of the reversed portion of the contact to hold the contact in operative position within the chamber, the shoulder being of sufficient width to retain the contact in operative position even when it is moved by engagementwith the jack blades of a plug inserted through communicating slots 8!] opening out the front face of the base plate one for each chamber. Toinsulate these contacts, a strip 8| of insulating material is fastened centrally upon a shoulder 82 formed on the inner surface of the base by a screw 33 loosely mounted in a countersunk bore opening out the front face of the base between the jack blade slots and a nut 84.

socket are each connected toa binding screw 18 on one of the plates '1'! and the other binding screwon each plate is connected by an insulated conductor 88 to a terminal or a current carrying conductor wire. Preferably, the conductors 48 and 4 9 are smaller wires having a higher resist ance than the conductors 88 since a greater current is required for the plug receptacle and for the lamp.

The operations of assembling the parts of the lamp socket and mounting it in the fixture are greatly simplified by the fact that the operative parts of the switch structure are not fastened in the lamp socket structure but are loosely mounted therein and are held in operative position by the fastening of the lamp socket within the cup portion. This eliminates a number of fastening means such as are usually employed in fixtures of this character and simplifies the assembling operation. After the lamp socket has been fastened in the cup portion the operative parts of the switch such as the movable contact, spindle and spring are held in their proper relations between the upper insulating button of the socket and the turn knob. Since the screws for fastening the socket in the cup are inserted in countersunk bores, they are practically concealed from View and do not detract from the attractive appearance of the fixture.

The switch is operated to close or to open the circuit by rotating the turn knob preferably in a clockwise direction which, through the instrumentality of the spindle, rotates the movable contact to move the wings thereof either into or out of engagement with the fixed contacts. Rotation in an opposite direction is prevented by the engagement of the rear ends of the wings with the vertical shoulders of the ratchet teeth on the upper button so that the turn knob can be rotated only in one direction. When the movable contact is rotated the wings disengage from the fixed contacts simultaneously and the spring forces the contact upwardly causing the wings to drop into the next teeth, thus breaking the circuit by a movement transversely to the fixed contacts. The simultaneous breaking of the circuit at two points weakens the arcing and the separation of the movable contact. from the fixed contacts in a transverse direction further reduces the arcing because it is smothered by the porcelain insulation underlying the fixed contacts. With this construction arcing is reduced to a minimum which prevents burning of the contacts and increases the life and durability of the switch.

It is to be understood that my invention may be embodied in other forms of construction than a that herein shown and described without departing from the spirit thereof and that it is not to be limited except as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim. is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a cup portion having a circular opening in its base, a turn knob mounted loosely in the base of said cup portion and projecting outwardly through said opening, said turn knob having an annular flange on its inner'end overlapping the inner edge of said opening for holding said turn knob within said cup, an electric lamp socket seated in said cup, the base of said lamp socket being recessed to accommodate the flanged end of saidturn knob and to prevent upward movement thereof without interfering with its rotary movement, said lamp socket including a switch having a rotatable meming one end anchored in said turn knob to turn with it and means for fastening said lamp socket in said cup to hold said turn knob and operating member in operative position. v

2. A lighting fixture comprising a cup portion having a circular opening in its base, a turn knob mounted loosely in the base of said cup portion and projecting outwardly through said opening, said turn knob having an annular flange on its inner end overlapping the inner edge of said opening for holding said turn knob within said cup, an electric lamp socket mounted and seated in said cup, the base of said lamp socket being recessed to accommodate the flanged end of said turn knob and to prevent upward move-. ment thereof without interfering with its rotary movement, said lamp socket including a switch having a rotatable operating member, said member having one end anchored in said turn knob to turn with it and means for fastening said lamp socket in said cup to hold said turn knob and operating member in operative position without other fastening means.

3. Allighting fixture comprising a cup portion having a circular opening in its base, a turn knob mounted loosely in the base of said cup portion and projecting outwardly through said opening, said turn knob having an annular flange on its inner end overlapping the inner edge of said opening for retaining it within said cup, an elecber for opening and closing it, said member havtric lamp socket mounted in said cup portion,

the base of said lamp socket being recessed to accommodate loosely the flanged end of said turn.

knob, said lamp socket including a switch having an operating spindle with its lower end anchored in said turn knob and means for fastening said lamp socket in said cup to hold said spin.- dle and said turn knob in operative position without other fastening means.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a cup portion having a circular opening in its base, a turn knob mounted loosely in the base of said cup portion and projecting outwardly through said opening,

said turn' knob having an annular flange on its inner end overlapping the inner margin of said opening for retaining it within said cup and having a square bore in its inner face, an electric lamp socket mounted in said cup portion in loose engagement with the flanged end of said turn knob, said lamp socket including a switch having an operating spindle with its lower end fitted into the square bore in said turn knob to turn with it and means for fastening said lamp socket within said cup to hold said turn knob and operating spindle in operative positions without other fastening means.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a cup portion having a circular opening in its base, a turn knob mounted loosely in the base of said cup portion and projecting outwardly through said opening, said turn knob having an annular flange on its inner end overlapping the inner margin of said opening for retaining it Within said cup, an electric lamp socket seated in said cup portion, the

base of said lamp socket being recessed to ac-.

commodate loosely the flanged end of said turn knob, said lamp socket including a switch having a rotatable operating member connected to said turn knob to turn with it and means for fastening said lamp socket within said cup to mounted loosely in the base of said cup por 7 a pair of insulating buttons fastened together in spaced relation and a rotary switch intermediate said buttons, said switch including a rotatable member loosely mounted in said buttons for opening and closing said switch, said rotatable mem her being supported by and adapted to turn with said turn knob, and means for fastening said lamp socket in said cup to hold said turn knob and rotatable member in operative positions without other fastening means.

'7. A lighting fixture comprising a cup portion having a circular opening in its base, a turn knob mounted loosely in the base of said cup portion and projecting outwardly through said opening, said turn knob having an annular flange on its inner end overlapping the inner edge of said opening for holding'said turn knob in operative position within said cup, an electric lamp socket mounted and seated in said cup in loose engagement with the flanged end of said turn knob to prevent upward movement thereof with out interfering with its rotary movement, said lamp socket comprising a pair of insulating buttons fastened together in spaced relation and a rotary switch intermediate said buttons, said switch including a rotatable spindle loosely mounted in said buttons for opening and closing said switch, said spindle being supported by and adapted to turn with said turn knob, and means for fastening said lamp socket in said cup to hold said turn knob and spindle in operative positions without other fastening means.

8. A lighting fixture comprising a cup portion having a circular opening in its base, a turn knob mounted loosely in the base of said cup portion and projecting outwardly through said opening, said turn knob having an annular flange on its inner end overlapping the inner edge of said opening for holding said turn knob in operative position within said cup, an electric lamp socket mounted and seated in said cup in loose engagement with the flanged end of said turn knob to prevent upward movement thereof without interfering with its rotary movement, said lamp socket comprising a pair of insulating buttons fastened together in spaced relation and a rotary switch intermediate said buttons, said switch including a rotatable spindle loosely mounted in the lower of said buttons for opening and closing said switch, saidspindle having its upper end seated in the upper of said buttons to prevent lateral movement thereof and its lower end supported by and anchored in said turn knob to turn therewith, and means for fastening said lamp socket in said cup to hold said turn knob and spindle in operative positions without other fastening means.

GUSTAF A. JOHNSON. 

